by Michelle Belloit and Anita Comisky
Was it serendipity, good karma, or just good timing? Neither Michelle nor I truly know the reason why we found ourselves standing in the same bar line that night. What we do know is that it changed the course of both our lives in a monumental way. It was a pivotal night for me; I was on the cusp of transferring my for-profit business to a nonprofit. I had worked nonstop for the past five years and in a few minutes time I was going to be free of all responsibilities for that business. The mix of excitement, fear, and uncertainty had left me in a state of emotional limbo. I needed a drink, not so much for the alcohol but for the moment of pause, the brief respite from the whirlwind of thoughts about what the future might hold.
The bar was buzzing with people and energy, but in that lively environment, I caught Michelle's eye. Her warm smile was like a beacon, inviting and approachable. It didn’t take long for us to strike up a conversation. At first, it was just the usual pleasantries exchanged between strangers, but within a few sentences, I knew this wasn’t just a chance encounter. There was something about Michelle—her sharp wit, her insightful remarks on business trends—that caught my attention immediately. It was clear she was someone who understood business, not just from a theoretical standpoint but from a lived experience.
As our conversation deepened, we quickly uncovered a shared passion: supporting women, particularly those over 40. We both understood the unique challenges women in this stage of life face, from navigating significant life changes like death or divorce to grappling with the feeling that they still had more to give and accomplish. Michelle, in her 50s, and I, in my 60s, felt these struggles personally. Neither of us was ready to settle into retirement. Instead, we wanted to redefine our stories, channeling our energy and experience and shifting our narratives.
The more we talked, the clearer our synergies became. Michelle had spent years working with women in small businesses, with a natural ability to encourage and inspire female entrepreneurs.
Her expertise was instrumental in helping women shift their direction and unlock new potential. My background in entrepreneurship and finance had given me a knack for crafting sustainable strategies that helped women achieve long-term goals. Together, we realized we could be a powerful force in helping women over 40 not just survive, but truly thrive, both personally and professionally.
We decided that writing a book was the best way to empower women and help them find the contentment, satisfaction, and joy they both needed and deserved. A book would allow us to reach more women and offer them the inspiration and practical advice to navigate the often-overlooked challenges faced by those over 40. We wanted it to be more than just a guide—it had to be a collection of real, transformative stories that could resonate deeply with readers.
The heart of our book is a series of stories from women who have redefined themselves after significant shifts in their lives. These stories are not just about success in the traditional sense but about resilience, self-discovery, and finding a new sense of purpose.
The process wasn’t easy. We spent countless hours interviewing these remarkable women. We meticulously rewrote and revised, determined to do justice to their experiences and to make sure that every woman who read their stories could see a piece of herself in them. Each narrative is unique, yet there is a common thread running through them all: the power of reinvention, of stepping out of society’s expectations and creating a new, fulfilling path. These stories serve as a reminder that it’s never too late to shift direction, embrace change, and pursue joy.
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